Fab. LXXII.
An Eagle and a Fox.
THere was a Bargain ſtruck up betwixt an Eagle and a Fox, to be Wonderful Good Neighbours and Friends. The One Took up in a Thicket of Bruſhwood , and the Other Timber’d upon a Tree hard by. The Eagle, One Day When the Fox was abroad a Foraging fell into his Quarters and carry’d away a Whole Litter of Cubbs at a Swoop. The Fox came time enough back to ſee the Eagle upon Wing, with her Prey in the Foot, and to fend many a Heavy Curſe after her; but there was No overtaking her: It happen’d in a very Short time after This, upon the Sacrificing of a Goat, that the ſame Eagle made a Stoop at a piece of Fleſh upon the Altar, and ſhe took it away to her Young: But Some Live Coales it ſeems, that Stuck to't, ſet the Neſt a fire. The Birds were not as yet Fledge enough to Shift for Themſelves, but upon Sprawling and Snuggling to get Clear of the Flame, down they Tumbled, half Roaſted into the very Mouth of the Fox, that ſtood Gaping under the Tree to ſee the End on't: So that the Fox had the ſatisfaction at laſt, of Devouring the Children of her Enemy in the very Sight of the Damm,
The Moral.
REFLEXION.
The Morality of This Fiction looks ſeveral Ways. Here’s firſt a League betwixt an Eagle and a Fox; which would be a moſt Incongruous Allyance, if it were not in the caſe of That Princely Birds Departure from the Dignity ot her Character, and from the Obligation of Royal Juſtice: ſo that Æſop has aptly enough Match’d a Faith-Breaking Prince, with a Perfidious Subject, and Fancy’d a Knaviſh Favourite, as the Fitteſt Miniſter for ſuch a Governour. In the Eagles Deſtroying the Foxes Cubbs, there's Power Excecis'd_with Oppreſſion , and the Curſes of the Fox that Purſu'd the Oppreſſor, were not ſent in Vain neither, as appears by the Se-quel
